El Paso plans for more all abilities playgrounds

A wave of new parks is coming to El Paso.

A total of four all abilities playgrounds will open to the public over the next two years.

Each playground is uniquely designed for inclusive play by all children, regardless of their physical capabilities.

They’ll open at Joe Barraza and Vinny, the East Side Regional Park, Chauver Park and the Jan Sumrall trailhead.

The city council budgeted $1 million for the plan while another million came from a Texas Park and Wildlife Grant and later $250,000 was contributed by a neighborhood association.

Each site includes features such as wheelchair ramps, canopy cover from the sun and musical play areas.

“You also have kids who maybe are autistic and a little bit, they are excited about different sounds and so that takes into affect these different sounds and it also takes into consideration kids who may not be able to run as quickly as the other kids,” said city of El Paso communications director Laura Cruz-Acosta.

Two such all abilities parks have already opened in El Paso in Thorn Park and Ponder Park.